Undara Volcanic National Park

On the western slopes of the McBride Plateau, open woodlands give way to the vast open spaces of the savanna. Here in Undara Volcanic National Park, rich volcanic basalt soils, covered in a sea of seasonal grasses, conceal the Undara lava tube. This geological tunnel of global significance extends under a ribbon of remnant dry rainforest.

‘Undara’ is an Aboriginal word meaning ‘long way’. The park protects one of the longest lava tube cave systems in the world. About 190,000 years ago, a large volcano erupted violently, spewing molten lava over the surrounding landscape. The lava flowed rapidly down a dry riverbed. The top, outer-layer cooled and formed a crust, while the molten lava below drained outwards, leaving behind a series of hollow tubes.

Semi-evergreen vine thicket grows in the moist, sheltered entrances to some of the lava caves. The roofs of some tubes collapsed, creating ideal conditions for dry rainforest to grow and wildlife to shelter. Rock-wallabies, insectivorous bat colonies and owls roost here in the cool. Birds shelter in the fruit-filled canopy and predators lurk in the tumbled basalt terrain to complete the food chain.

Rows of red rich soil, green macadamia trees dotting the horizon, "hedges" of sugarcane along the roadside and a main street with history and heritage oozing out of its facades - history, heritage, arts, culture, food and wine is all here in Childers.

You can't avoid Bass and Barra when it comes to Lake Monduran.
You can do Barramundi charters, fish yourself for barra on the lake, eat barra, picnic with barra, barbecue with Barra and even be in a competition to catch the biggest Barra.

Coalstoun Lakes rises 200 metres above a broad cultivated valley, Mt Le Brun, an extinct volcano, contains two large craters which form shallow lakes. Formed more than 600,000 years ago, the mountain is one of the youngest volcanic formations in Australia.

Spectacular exposed granite outcrops and cliffs rise to 703 metres above sea level in this rugged park. Mount Walsh and The Bluff Mount at the northern end of the park are prominent landmarks in the Biggenden area.

Mount Perry settlement began in the late 1840s with the taking up of large sheep grazing stations, mining activity began in the 1860s and the discovery of rich copper deposits led to a mining boom. Today there is still mining activity in the town.

Apple Tree Creek is a convenient stop on the way to either Bundaberg or Gin Gin, just outside of Childers. A family-friendly picnic ground with great facilities is on the left as you enter Apple Tree Creek from the south.

For Four Wheel Drive enthusiasts, Coongarra Rock and Falls provide an opportunity to explore rocky outcrops, caves, rock pools and natural vegetation. It is possible to climb the rock but should only be attempted by fit and experienced bushwalkers.

Biggenden rests in a dramatic landscape below the rugged cliffs of Mount Walsh on the Isis Highway 339 kilometres north of Brisbane and just over one hours drive from the coastal regions of Bundaberg.
Settled originally as a service town to the gold fields of Paradise and Shamrock in the 1880s, Biggenden is now famous for it's history and life on the land.

Gayndah lays claim to being the oldest towns in Australia, founded in 1849 maintaining its old fashioned charm today. Several buildings have been heritage listed including Mellors Drapery (one of the few buildings in Australia which still uses a flying fox to deal with transactions), old section of the State School, Gayndah Soldier's Memorial Hall (Town Hall and Council Chambers), Racecourse and several rail bridges.

Gin Gin must be one of the only towns in Australia that can link bushrangers, thick scrub, red soil and barramundi together through its unique and varied history and landscape.
A perfect pit stop on your way North or South, Gin Gin is often referred to as Wild Scotsman country as one of Queensland's rogue bushrangers was captured here in 1866.